US import compliance
Food entering the United States has to satisfy the importer, not only the buyer. FSVP is an importer-side obligation under FSMA. ALPHATRADE supports it from the supply side by qualifying the selected producing site and assembling the supplier, product and supporting documentation the importer's verification requires, before a program ships.
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Every producing site is qualified before it enters a program, on its food-safety certification and documentation; an audit is carried out where the program requires it. Programs requiring a specific certification are structured around a producing site holding the required current certificate. Certificate scope and expiry are confirmed in writing for the selected product before the first order, because a certificate that does not name the product is not evidence for that product.
Program and shipment documentation
Supplier-side evidence and shipment information are prepared before dispatch. The designated importer and filer retain their respective verification and filing responsibilities.
What is verified
Programs requiring a GFSI-recognized standard are structured around a producing site holding current BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or IFS Food certification. ISO 22000 alone is considered only for programs that do not require a GFSI-recognized certification program. The certificate, its scope and its expiry date are confirmed for the specific product before the program is agreed. Which schemes are GFSI-recognized, and the scope trap.
Facilities subject to FDA food facility registration must hold a current registration. Applicability and exemptions are checked for the selected program. Required registrations must be renewed between October and December of each even-numbered year. The renewal window, the US agent rule and what a lapse costs.
FSVP is the importer obligation under FSMA, not the supplier obligation. It requires a written verification per supplier and per food, supported by hazard analysis and the producing-site documentation. ALPHATRADE maintains and supplies the supplier-side evidence the importer uses in its FSVP process. What the file must contain, and where files fail.
For shipments subject to Prior Notice, the designated filer must obtain FDA confirmation before the applicable deadline. ALPHATRADE provides the agreed product, producing-site, quantity and shipment information to the importer for filing through its designated broker or forwarder. Missing or inadequate notice can result in refusal of admission. Deadlines, filing windows and why filings fail.
Commercial processors of products subject to the FDA rules for low-acid canned foods or acidified foods must meet the applicable establishment-registration and scheduled-process filing requirements. Applicability is determined for the specific product, formulation, process and packaging; it is not established by the food-safety certificate alone. Classification, FCE and process filing explained.
Each lot ships with analysis against the agreed specification, the ingredient and allergen declaration reviewed for the destination market, and the commercial and transport documents the entry requires. Label elements, dual units, allergens and origin marking.
The working process
The producing site is qualified and its current certification, scope and expiry confirmed for the specific product.
Supplier-side hazard information and producing-site documentation are assembled to support the designated importer's FSVP review before the first order.
The Prior Notice data set is provided to the importer for filing, lot analysis is issued against the agreed specification, and entry documentation travels with the goods.
Common questions
FSVP is the responsibility of the FSVP importer, generally the U.S. owner or consignee of the food at entry. If there is no U.S. owner or consignee, a U.S. agent or representative of the foreign owner or consignee must agree in writing to serve in that role. The FSVP importer may differ from the customs importer of record. ALPHATRADE supplies the agreed supplier-side documentation; the designated FSVP importer retains its regulatory responsibilities.
Certifications belong to the producing site, not to ALPHATRADE, and they vary from site to site. Food-safety certification is checked in the ALPHATRADE supplier audit: programs requiring a GFSI-recognized standard are structured around a site holding current BRCGS, FSSC 22000 or IFS Food certification, and FDA food facility registration is required where the product ships to the United States. The certificate, its scope and its expiry are confirmed in writing for the selected product before the first order.
No. ISO 22000 on its own is not recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative. BRCGS, FSSC 22000 and IFS Food are. Where a buyer requires a GFSI-recognized standard, ISO 22000 alone does not satisfy it, and the program is qualified against a recognized scheme instead.
Yes. ALPHATRADE prepares the required product, producing-site and shipment information and provides it to the importer for transmission to its customs broker or forwarder for filing before arrival. Where Prior Notice is required, food arriving without adequate notice is subject to refusal of admission.
Low-acid canned foods and acidified foods under 21 CFR 113 and 114 require establishment registration and scheduled-process filing with the FDA under 21 CFR Part 108, where applicable, producing an FCE number and an SID for the process. This is separate from the food-safety certificate and is confirmed before a canned program is quoted for the United States.
Yes. Certification documents, scope and expiry for the selected producing site are provided to qualified buyers as part of the program specification, before the first order is placed.
Analysis against the agreed specification, the ingredient and allergen declaration reviewed for the destination market, and the commercial and transport documents required for entry. The exact pack is fixed on the program specification.
The published category programs are assessed individually for US entry, because the requirements differ by product: FCE registration and scheduled-process filing apply to products covered by the low-acid canned-food or acidified-food rules. Applicability depends on the formulation, process, packaging, storage conditions and relevant exclusions. The applicable requirements are confirmed for the specific product during qualification.
Professional buyer inquiries
Your requirement does not need to be complete. Share what you know: product, quantity, destination, packaging requirements and timing. ALPHATRADE will review the scope and outline the next commercial step.
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